	Introduction

The global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is affecting communities around the world and throughout the United States, with the number of confirmed cases and fatalities growing daily.. 116-136 ) was enacted on March 27, 2020.. A newly established FDA authority for OTC drug review.. Additional workforce provisions described in this report include reauthorization and extension of appropriations for existing Health and Human Services (HHS) health workforce programs, and liability limitation.. Containment and mitigation efforts by U.S. federal, state, and local governments have been undertaken to "flatten the curve"âthat is, to slow the widespread transmission that could overwhelm the nation's health care system.. In addition to its health provisions, the CARES Act provides additional supplemental appropriations to support federal response efforts and authorizes a number of economic stimulus measures, among other things.. It does not track the law's implementation or funding and will not be updated.. It is the third comprehensive law to address the pandemic.. Marketing of over-the-counter drugs.. Provisions addressed at the Medicare and Medicaid programs and on private health insurance plans to temporarily require, or increase payment for, telehealth services and specified services related to COVID-19 testing, diagnosis, or treatment.. Relevant background is provided for context.. Report Contents

This report describes the majority of health-related sections in Division A, Title III of the CARES Act, "Supporting America's Health Care System in the Fight Against the Coronavirus.". Specifically, this report describes provisions regarding, among other things the following: 
The medical countermeasures (MCMs)âdrugs, tests, treatments, medical devices, and supplies such as PPEâincluding research and development; product regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the strategic national stockpile (SNS); and other supply chain matters.. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L.. The health workforce, including telehealth programs, the rural health care system, and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS).. The report also does not include Division B of the act, which provides emergency supplemental appropriations for the COVID-19 response.. This report concludes with an Appendix that catalogues deadlines, effective dates, and reporting requirements for provisions described in the report.. This report does not address education or labor provisions in Subtitle B or C in Part IV of Title III, or provisions in Subtitle E of Part IV of Title III, "Health and Human Services Extenders," which are described in another CRS report.. This report is intended to reflect the CARES Act at enactment (i.e., March 27, 2020).
The global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is affecting communities around the world and throughout the United States, with the number of confirmed cases and fatalities growing daily. Containment and mitigation efforts by U.S. federal, state, and local governments have been undertaken to "flatten the curve"âthat is, to slow the widespread transmission that could overwhelm the nation's health care system.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136 ) was enacted on March 27, 2020. It is the third comprehensive law enacted in 2020 to address the pandemic. In addition to a number of broad health care provisions, the CARES Act provides additional supplemental appropriations to support federal response efforts and authorizes a number of economic stimulus measures, among other things.
This report describes the majority of health-related sections in Division A, Title III, of the CARES Act, "Supporting America's Health Care System in the Fight Against the Coronavirus." Relevant background is provided for context. Specifically, this report describes provisions regarding, among other things, the following:
The availability of medical countermeasures (MCMs)âdrugs, tests, treatments, medical devices, and supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE)âincluding research and development; product regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS); and other supply chain matters. The health workforce, including telehealth programs, the rural health care system, and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). Additional workforce provisions described in this report include reauthorization and extension of appropriations for existing HHS health workforce programs, and liability limitation. Provisions addressed at the Medicare and Medicaid programs and on private health insurance plans that temporarily require, or increase payment for, telehealth services and specified services related to COVID-19 testing, diagnosis, or treatment. A newly established FDA authority for over-the-counter (OTC) drug review.
This report does not address education or labor provisions in Subtitle B or C in Part IV of Title III, or provisions in Subtitle E of Part IV of Title III, "Health and Human Services Extenders," which are described in other CRS reports. The report also does not include Division B of the act, which provides emergency supplemental appropriations for the COVID-19 response.
The Appendix catalogues deadlines, effective dates, and reporting requirements for provisions described in the report.
This report is intended to reflect the CARES Act at enactment (i.e., March 27, 2020). It does not track the law's implementation or funding and will not be updated.